Container



Jan. 8, 1946. H SEBELL I 2,392,507

CONTAINER Filed March 9, 1944 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 19-4111. Zo/ 30 Fly. 1.

Harry 56176, INVENTOR.

Jan.8,1946. H SEBEL; 2,392,507

CONTAINER Filed March 9, 1944 s Sheets-Sheet 2 4' Fig. Z

h'afry $612 811, IIVVVENTIOR. BY

Jan. 8, 1946.

HJSEBELI? CONTAINER Filed March 9, I944 -I5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Harry INVENTOR.

Patented Jan. 8, 1946' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CONTAINER Harry Sebell, Marblehead, Mass. Application March}, 1944. Serial No. 525,660 30laims. (01.215 95) This invention relates to containers having a body portion of plastics, glass or other vitreous material which is sealed by a metal sealing means that is provided with a tear strip that can be torn out for opening the container.

The features wherein the invention resides will be herein set forth and then pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings wherein I have illustrated some selected embodiments of my invention,

Fig. 1 is a sectional view of the retaining band.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the closure member.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view of the upper end of a container body to be sealed by my improved sealing means.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view of a sealed container embodying my invention taken on the line 4-4, Fig. 7.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view showing my improved sealing means.

Fig. 6 is aview similar to Fig. 4 but showing the sealing means with the tear strip removed.

Fig. 7 is a side elevation of the upper portion of a container embodying my invention.

Figs. 8 and 9 are sectional views illustrating a different embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 10 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the construction shown in Fig. 8.

In the construction shown in Figs. 1 to 5, I indicates the container body which may be made of glass or of other similar material and which is shown as formed with the neck portion 2 which is provided with'an exterior rib 3. The upper edge 4 of this rib 3 is situated somewhat below the top edge 5 of the container and constitutes an upwardly facing annular shoulder, the lower edge 6 of said rib constituting an annular downwardly facing shoulder. This rib 3 is also shown as having an annular circumferential exterior grtaove I situated between the two shoulders 4 an 6.

The closure for the container is preferably made of sheet metal and it comprises a closure member 8 and a retaining band member 9.

The closure member 8 is formed with a peripheral downwardly directedskirt portion In which is of a size to tightly fit the exterior wall portion I l of the neck above theupwardly facing shoulder 4, said skirt l0 terminating at its lower edge in an exterior bead l2 which is adapted to engage the shoulder 4 when the closure means is applied to the container body. This bead I 2 is preferably formed by rolling the lower edge of the skirt In so as to provide the upwardly directed portion l3 and the downwardly directed portion II which lies between the upwardly directed portion l3 and the skirt.

The closure member may, if desired, be of the paneled type, that is, the central portion thereof may be depressed so as to rovide the annular wall l5 which fits within the mouth of the container neck, this construction providing the closure member with the annular downwardly directed groove l6 which embraces the top edge of the container neck,

The retaining band 9 has an interior diameter to fit the exterior diameter of therib 3, and the upper edge of said retaining band is bent inwardly as shown at H, and then downwardly as shown at I 8, the diameter of the opening bounded by the downwardly bent portion I8 having substantially the same diameter as the skirt portion H] of the closure member 8. Said downwardly bent portion I 8 is adapted to be interlocked with the bead 12 of the closure member 8.

The retaining band 9 is formed with two circumferential parallel scorelines I9, 20 which form between them a tear strip 2| that can be torn out for opening the container as will be presently described. The scorelines I9, 20 are shown as extending nearly but not entirely around the band as shown in Fig. '7, thereby leaving an unscored portion 22 of the band between the ends 'of the scorelines for the purpose oi. forming a hinge portion for the closure after the container has been opened as also will be presently described. The tear strip 2| has. a tab 23 secured to one end thereof which is adapted to be engaged by a container-opening key for tearing the tear strip from the band as usual in containers that are opened by the removal of a tear strip.

In applying the closure means to the container body, the closure member 8 is first assembled with the container body with the skirt portion I0 thereof encircling the exterior face ll of the container body and with the vertical wall I5 of the closure member fitting within the neck of the container, a packing ring or gasket 24 being used in connection with the closure member if desired.

The retaining band 9 is then inserted over the closure member and the rib 3 and iS brought into a position in which the downwardly directed portion I8 is wedged between the skirt ID of the closure member and the doubled-over portion l3, l4 of the bead I 2. At this time pressure is applied both to the closure member 8 to compress the gasket 24 and to seat the bead l2 firmly against the upwardly facing shoulder 4 and to the inwardly directed portion 5 l of the retaining ring 9 so as to force the downwardly directed portion l8 thereof firmly into the annular space between the skirt I8 and the bead l2 and to brin the inwardly directed portion I! of the band firmly against thedoubled portion I3, H of the bead l2.

While the retaining band 9 and the closure member 8 are thus held under pressure, the lower edge 25 of the band 9 is bent inwardly underneath the downwardly facing shoulder 6 as shown in Figs. 4 and 6. and at the same time the band 9 is provided with a circumferential indentation 21 which registers with and occupies the groove 1, thereby locking the band 9 to the rib 3. Pressure in a radial direction may also be directed against the upper portion of the band 9, that is, the portion thereof above the upwardly facing shoulder 4, thereby firmly interlocking the downwardly directed portion |8 of the band 9 with the bead l2 of the closure member 8. r

In the construction shown in Figs. 1-7 the lower scoreline 20 is so disposed on the band 9 that it is located just above the indented portion 21 thereof and the upper scoreline I9 is formed near the top of the band and at a point that is no lower than the underside of the .bead l2.

In the construction shown in Figs. 8 and 9, the lower scoreline 20a is located in the indented portion 2! of the band 9. The upper corner 39 of the bead 3 is rounded and not only i the band indented at 21 to occupy the groove I, but when the inward radial pressure is applied to the upper portion of the band 9 above the upwardly facing shoulder in order to interlock the downwardly directed portion H! of the band 9 with the bead i2, said band 9 is also indented into the groove whichis constituted by the rounded corner 30 and the bead i2 as shown at 3|, thereby providing the band 9 with two annular indentations.

In this embodiment of the invention the upper scoreline |9a is located in the indented portion 3| of the band, and the lower scoreline 29a is shown as located in the indented portion 21 which occupies the groove 7.

Furthermore in the embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. 8 to 10, the inner wall oil the neck 2 is undercut slightly near the top as shown at 95, thereby forming an inwardly directed bead portion 46 at the upper extremity of the walls of the neck 2.

Moreover in this embodiment of the invention the annular wall to of the closure member which fits within theneck of the container is expanded outwardly slightly at its lower end as shown at 67, thereby forming an annular bead-like portion which underlies the head 48 of the container neck, this construction having the advantage that it retains the cover in closed position when the cover is closed afterthe container has been in-- itially opened as will be presently described.

When the closure means is applied to the container as above described, it provides a tight seal which permits the contents of the container to be vacuum packed.

When the container is to be opened, the tab 23 is engaged by a suitable key member and the tear strip 2| is torn out of the retaining band 9 by. winding said tear strip 2| on the key as is the common practice. If the 'scorelines extend completely around the band 9, then the removal of the tear strip 2| will completely sever theclowhen the tear strip 2| has been torn out, the

closure member 8 will still remain permanently sure member 8 from the lower portion of the band through the portion 22 thereof which is located between the ends of the tear strip 2|, said portion 22 constituting a hinge portion for the closure member when the can is opened. After the tear strip 2| has been torn out. the lower portion of the band 9 below said tear strip 2| will remain firmly attached or anchored to the container by reason of the fact that the upper part of said lower portion has been crimped into the circumferential groove 'I.- In the construction shown in Figs. 1-4 wherein the lower scoreline 20 is above the circumferential indented portion 21 of the band, the entire indented portion is effective in co-operating with the inturned lower edge '25 of the band to hold the lower portion of the band firmly anchored to the container. In the construction shownin Figs. 8-10 wherein the lower scoreline 20a is located in the indentation 21. the upper edge of the portion of the band 9 which still remains after the tear strip has been torn out and which has been crimped into the circumferential groove 1 also functions together with the inturned bottom edge- 29to hold the lower remaining portion of the band firmly anchored to the container.

This is important because'in order' that the hinge portion 22 may function effectively, it is necessary that the lower portion of the band 9 should remain firmly in its proper position. thereby to provide a firm anchorage for the hinge portion 22.

The removal of the tear strip 2| does not usually break the vacuum seal, but the closure member 8' can be lifted by inserting a suitable sharpedged implement between the head I 2 of the skirt l0 and the shoulder 4. .In both embodiments of the invention the upper scoreline is so located that when the tear strip 2| has been re- -moved, the joint between the bead |2 and the shoulder 4 is exposed to permit a sharp-edged implement to be crowded between these parts for the purpose of prying the closure member 8 loose. The circumferential indentation 21 and the inwardly bent lower edge 25 of the band serve to retain the latter firmly on the head 3 even after the tear strip 2| has been removed. The annular indentation 21 not only serves to lock the band 9 to the rib 3 of the container after the tear strip 2| has been removed, but it also assists in maintaining the container tightl sealed before the tear strip 2| has been removed in case an internal pressure should develop within the sealed container, because with this construction, any upward pressure against the closure member is resisted by both the inturned edge 25 of the band and the indented portion 21 which occupies the groove I.

Where the tear strip 2| is so made as to extend nearly but not entirely around the retaining band. 9, the closure member 8 will remain permanently attached to the container through the terior wall of said body above the upwardly facand any tendency for the closure to spring open slightly will be overcome.

A further advantage of the construction shown in Figs. 8 to 10 wherein the scorelines are formed in the annular indented portions 21 and 3| is that the torn edges 32 and 33 which result from tearing the tear strip from the band are located within the indentations and are, therefore, protected so that there is no danger of anyones becoming injured by such torn edges when handling the container after the tear strip has been removed.

I claim:

1. A containerv body having an open upper end and an exterior rib adjacent said end presenting an upper edge which constitutes an upwardly facing shoulder situated below the top of the body and also presenting a lower edge which constitutes a downwardly facing shoulder, said rib having a circumferential groove between said shoulders, a closure member for said open end, said closure member having a peripheral skirt portion which encircles and fits the exterior wall of said body above the upwardly facing shoulder and which has a lower edge that is rolled into a bead which engages said upwardly facing shoulder, and a retaining band member encircling said rib and having an upper edge and a lower edge and also having a circumferential indentation occupying said circumferential groove, the upper edge of said band being bent inwardly and then downwardly and the downwardly bent portion being interlocked with the bead on the skirt and the lower edge of the band being bent inwardly beneath the downwardly facing shoulder, said band member having two parallel scorelines which extend nearly but not entirely around it and which define a tear strip that can be torn out for opening the container, the lower scoreline being located no lower than said circumferential indentation, whereby when the tear strip is torn out the closure member remains attached to the lower portion of the band that is located below the lowerscoreline by the unscored portion thereof between the ends of the scorelines and said lower portion of the band remains firmly anchored to the rib by the parts thereof that are crimped into said circumferential groove and underneath the downwardly facing shoulder.

2. A container comprising a container body having an opening in its upper end and presenting a top edge surrounding said opening, said body also having an exterior rib adjacent its upper end. which rib has an upper edge constituting an upwardly facing shoulder below the end of the body and also a lower edge constituting a downwardly facing shoulder, said rib further having a rounded upper corner and a circumferential groove between said shoulders, a closure member for said opening having a peripheral skirt portion which encircles and fits the exing shoulder, said skirt portionhaving a lower edge which is rolled into a bead that engages said upwardly facing shoulder and forms with the rounded corner of the rib a second annular groove, and a retaining band member encircling said rib and having upper and lower edges and also having DWO circumferential indentations, one of which occupies said circumferential groove in the rib and the other 01' which occupies said second annular groove, the upper edge of said band being bent inwardly and then downwardly andthe downwardly bent portion being interlocked with the bead on the skirt, said band having two circumferential scorelines forming between them a tear strip which can be torn out for opening the container, the lower scoreline being situated in the annular indentation which occupies the circumferential groove in the rib and tne upper scoreline being situated in the other annular indentation which occupies the second groove.

3. A container body having an open upper end and an exterior rib adjacent said end, which rib has a lower edge that constitutes a downwardly facing shoulder and an upper edge that constitutes an upwardly facing shoulder that is situated below the top edge of the body,'sa1d rib having a circumferential groove between said shoulders, and a closure member for said open end, said closure member having a peripheral skirt portion which encircles and ntsv the exterior wall of said body above the upwardly facing shoulder and which has a lower edge that is rolled into a bead that engages said upwardly facing shoulder, and a retaining band member encircling said rib and having upper and lower edges and also having a circumrerential indentation occupying said circumferential groove, the upper edge of the band being bent inwardly and then downwardly and the downwardly bent portion being interlocked with the head on the skirt, and the lower edge of the band being bent in-. wardly beneath the downwardly facing shoulder, said band having two scorelines extending par tially but not entirely around it and which define between them a tear strip that can be torn out to open the container, the lower scoreline being located no lower than said circumferential indentation and the upper scoreline being located no lower than the upwardly facing shoulder on the rib, whereby when the tear strip is torn out the closure member remains attached to the lower portion of the band located below the lower scoreline by the unscored portion thereof between the ends ,of the scorelines and said lower portion of the band remains firmly anchored to the container body by the parts thereof that are crimped into the circumferential groove and beneath the downwardly facing shoulder.

HARRY SEBELL. 

